Free The Prince Charming Hoax by Elyse Grant

up early to get some work done. If she didn ’ t send out some query letters to editors now, she wouldn ’ t have any assignments when she was ready to go back to work after the move. First she ’ d have to go through more than one hundred emails, though. She had never before gone two full days without checking email and decided never to do it again.
    Twenty-nine were from Doug, all written from his secret Hotmail account. They ’ d had a good laugh over that one. Once their email correspondence started to steam up, Doug could no longer take a chance on using the company email, so he got a Hotmail address for their hot mail.
    Leah no longer felt amused by anything related to Doug. She noted there were eight emails from him on Wednesday. Then he must have gone on a writing frenzy while on the flight to Paris and sent them all when he landed for a connecting flight at some point. Leah could see most of them were sent at the same time on Thursday. She highlighted them all and dragged them, unopened, into a folder marked DDD.
    She had saved every email they ’ d exchanged since she began seeing him again nine months before. “ The whole history of our relationship could be told with those messages, ” she thought. She often went in and reread the love notes and sexual fantasy mail they exchanged while apart. The emails had been a source of comfort when she was lonely. But for now, she wanted them to remain out of sight so she could keep him out of her mind.
    She stared at the folder with his initials. She had to admit she missed him and the long phone calls they shared while he was on the road. He also phoned her from his car while commuting to New York from his home in Connecticut. The best calls, though, were the early morning and late night calls from his hotel rooms. They ’ d have phone sex, and while it wasn ’ t nearly as good as doing it in the flesh, it was fun and gave her something to look forward to in the lonely weeks between his visits.
    Leah let her cursor hover over the folder, debating whether she should read the emails or not. Her instinct guided her to turn her attention back to her inbox.
    Two were from her new literary agent. Leah ’ s stomach did a flip-flop. Good news right now could change everything. Her original agent, who subsequently left the agency, had shopped her book proposal for Sexcess in the Suburbs: Put the Ms-tery Back in Your Life After Divorce, to a dozen publishers. The new agent was less enthusiastic about Leah ’ s prospects of selling the proposal, and she had wasted no time telling her so.
    “ Please, please say someone wants me, ” she whispered as she opened the first email.
    To: Leah Gold
From: Robin West
    Date: June 4
    Dear Ms. Gold,
    Attached are five more negative responses from publishers regarding your proposal. I am still awaiting replies from the editors at Hanover House and Arrow & Co. Will let you know as soon as I hear from them.
    Sincerely, Robin West
    Leah moved onto the next email, saying a quick, silent prayer for a more promising message.
    To: Leah Gold
From: Robin West
    Date: June 5
    Dear Ms. Gold,
    Attached are the last two responses from publishers contacted in regards to your manuscript. Since none of the twelve publishers have expressed interest in SEXCESS IN THE SUBURBS: PUT THE MS-TERY BACK IN YOUR LIFE AFTER DIVORCE, I am withdrawing from my position as your agent for this book. As I explained when I took over your representation from my predecessor at this agency, I do not feel a connection to your writing or subject matter. This, of course, does not mean you should not seek representation somewhere else. Tastes vary widely, and someone who can wholeheartedly support your work may better serve your interests.
    Best of luck to you,
Robin West
    Leah clicked the reply button impulsively.
    Dear Ms. Smug Fuck Face,
    Your last note was so very encouraging. I can ’ t tell you how much I ’ ve enjoyed working with you. Thank you so much.
    Sincerely,